Fame!

LaGuardia Arts High School

If you Google ‘Performing Arts High School’, top of the list comes Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts aka LaGuardia Arts aka the Fame school. I’ve been fortunate enough to be spending most of this week researching and visiting this school.

I know you won’t believe me but this:

was playing in the lobby of the school when I first arrived! I knew then I should have worn my leg warmers in homage to Leroy et al.

To give you some background information, LaGuardia High School dates back to 1936, when Major Fiorello H. LaGuardia established the school to serve as a haven for students gifted in the arts. The school today is an amalgamation of two illustrious schools: The High School of Music and Art and The School of Performing Arts. It boast world class facilities including a 1150 seat concert hall, 450 seat theatre, 150 black-box theatre, dance and instrumental studios, recording facilities, an art gallery and science and computer labs. Currently LaGuardia High School has 2600 students. Typically 700 students are admitted from more than 9000 applications!

La Guardia High School

I’ve been very kindly looked after by Dr Mark Stricklin (Assistant Principle) and Claudia (Year 10 student). Whilst touring the school and sitting in on lessons, one of the key things I noticed is the uncompromising passion and dedication that is felt and displayed by both the teachers and pupils.

From top to bottom, I witnessed of culture of always striving for higher standards and excellence is maintained by instilling self discipline. There’s also a great pride in all of the work produced and achievements of the pupils. On practically every wall, there are displays of student work and posters for upcoming performances.

Display Art

What is immediately apparent is how culturally diverse the student body is however you can’t help but notice that the girls far outweigh the number of boys but I’m sure this is due to the universal phenomenon for females to lean towards the arts and males the sciences (is that a controversial statement?) .

I asked Claudia how she personally defined and maintained excellence. She replied “It’s about maintaining high standards for yourself in all areas of your life. We’ve all worked hard and sacrificed to be here and it’s important for us to personally succeed”. And this can’t be disputed with 98% of the student class graduating and moving onto college – 26% of whom to Ivy league institutions.

Attending laGuardia is serious business.  Students’ daily programmes includes a complete academic course load and extensive arts programme starting from 7.45 am and ending between 3.30 and 4.15pm.  All classes have a focus on research and writing and a range of college-level and advanced classes are offered.  What was great to see was an emphasis in academic subjects on integrating the arts to encourage interdisiplinary instruction.

Going forward

This weekend marks the mass arrival of arts producers and educationalist as two major conferences & festivals are due to take place in New York next week – Under the Radar and ISPA. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to meet up with a few.
So, my few days in the United States has been a great introduction to not only the American public school system but also its links to the thriving and vibrate arts sector. I look forward to seeing and reporting more!

Fela! The Musical

Taking a break from my fellowship, I went to see my first Broadway Show on Wednesday – Fela! The Musical. There was no way I could escape seeing this after living and breathing all things Fela for the last 12 months whilst working on Punch Records’ Lemi Ghariokwu exhibition.

Scene from Fela! The Musical

I’ve heard lots of good things about the show and although it wasn’t what I expected, the cast and fantastic band really brought to life the prolific engery and passion Fela had for his music and political beliefs. I’m sure those who go to see Fela!  without knowing too much about his life and legagcy will leave wanting to know more.

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